Aston Villa have recorded a 3-0 victory over Young Boys in Switzerland to mark their Champions League debut in style.
Young Boys dominated the opening quarter of the game, Villa struggling to get to grips with the artificial surface at the Wankdorf Stadium.
However, Villa eventually clicked into gear, a well-worked set-piece resulting in Youri Tielemans firing a shot through a pack of bodies and into the bottom corner.
Some calamitous defending from Young Boys gifted Villa their second, Jacob Ramsey in a position to fire home from close range after Ollie Watkins had been hacked down by goalkeeper David von Ballmoos.
Villa had a third disallowed before half time, VAR finding evidence of a Watkins handball after he had finished sharply inside the area, and the England international would leave the action around the hour mark to make way for perennial match-winner Jhon Duran.
While the Colombia international soon had a goal disallowed of his own, Amadou Onana - who was at fault through handball - made amends with a sensational strike from distance, finding the bottom corner with a fizzing effort from 30 yards.
Despite Young Boys providing a threat at the other end throughout an entertaining contest, Villa could finally relax knowing that the job was done, with Unai Emery also able to take pride in his side keeping their first clean sheet of the season.
YOUNG BOYS VS. ASTON VILLA HIGHLIGHTS
Youri Tielemans goal vs. Young Boys (27th min, Young Boys 0-1 Aston Villa)
Aston Villa are off the mark in Europe 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 17, 2024
Youri Tielemans gives Unai Emery's side the lead after 26 minutes 🤩
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/YmMD1sJlt8
A set-piece straight off the training ground. After a short corner, John McGinn's flights a pass towards the back post for the awaiting Tielemans, who takes a touch to control the ball before firing it through a pack of players and into the bottom corner.
Jacob Ramsey goal vs. Young Boys (38th min, Young Boys 0-2 Aston Villa)
A mistake at the back and Aston Villa have doubled their lead 🔥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 17, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/MPLtoJMdBc
Villa double their lead through Jacob Ramsey after some of the most calamitous defending that you will ever see. Mohamed Ali Camara attempted to play the ball back to his goalkeeper, only for Ollie Watkins to nip in and get hacked down by David von Ballmoos. It would have been a definite penalty had the ball not gone straight to Ramsey, who converted from inside the six-yard box.
Amadou Onana goal vs. Young Boys (86th min, Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa)
Amadou Onana finishes in style as Aston Villa take a 3-0 lead 💥
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 17, 2024
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/0ogV4QhISp
Shortly after a handball by Onana prevented Duran from getting on the scoresheet, the midfielder made amends with the goal of the game. With time and space 30 yards out, the Belgium international found the bottom corner with a thunderous strike, sealing the three points in the process.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MORGAN ROGERS
© Imago
Morgan Rogers may not have gotten on the scoresheet but the playmaker was a constant link between midfield and attack. His storming run down the right in the first half was his standout moment, but it was his frequent touches and threat in the Young Boys half which helped keep the hosts on the back foot.
This was the first time all season that he has not completed the 90 minutes, that rest only coming to fruition once the game was over as a contest.
YOUNG BOYS VS. ASTON VILLA MATCH STATS
Possession: Young Boys 47%-53% Aston Villa
Shots: Young Boys 12-20 Aston Villa
Shots on target: Young Boys 5-7 Aston Villa
Corners: Young Boys 3-6 Aston Villa
Fouls: Young Boys 14-12 Aston Villa
BEST STATS
Youri Tielemans scores Aston Villa's first goal in the European Cup/Champions League in 41 years ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/NstgC34OZd
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 17, 2024
Morgan Rogers vs. Young Boys in the first half:
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 17, 2024
🥇 Most passes in the final third
🥇 Most duels won
🥇 Most chances created
🥇 Most dribbles completed
Stepping up on the big stage ✨ pic.twitter.com/9nvdfwKCSC
WHAT NEXT?
Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Saturday afternoon when they play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the West Midlands derby.
Meanwhile, Young Boys do not play their next Swiss Super League fixture until they square off against Winterthur on away territory on Sunday in what is a game between the division's bottom-two sides.
Darren Plant
